From 2011-13, Jewett was one of Washington's Major League coaches, first as a first-base coach in 2011-12 and then spent all of last season as the third-base coach. After the 2014 season, Jewett interviewed for the Nationals' managerial job after Davey Johnson retired, but the job went to Matt Williams.

Jewett then decided to leave Washington and join the Mariners' staff. He has a long working relationship with McClendon which dates back to their Pittsburgh days in 1996. He said he would have stayed with the Nationals if not for his relationship with McClendon.

"It's a long-standing relationship. ... I admire a lot of his traits. We can -- most of the time -- get along really well, but we argue well, too," Jewett said. "There is not a whole lot of things in baseball that would take me out of that situation [in Washington] if it were up to me. Lloyd McClendon is one of them, the way this organization [the Mariners] treated me when I came here to speak with them."

Jewett said he misses a lot of the relationships he had in the Nationals' organization. He was seen talking to shortstop Ian Desmond before Jewett had his meeting with the Seattle media on Friday.

"That's a great clubhouse [in Washington]. I know that. It's run by tremendous people. There are a lot of things that I miss. I see a lot of the same traits [in Seattle]," Jewett said.

He is not surprised to see the Nationals in first place. He said they have a firm foundation. He said he would be surprised if they are not a good ballclub for many years to come.